Launch-cover.



No. 734,516. I 1 PATENTEDJULY 28, 1903. J. G. GOLLAMORE & G. W. KBRST.

I LAUNCH COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES 2 I L INVENTQRS I Cjfl mel ollamore. d GBQaznh/mnrf. 1

My, m RNEY UNITED STATES Patented July 28, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LAUNCH-COVER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 734,516, dated July 28,1903. Application filed January 1 3, 1903. Serial No. 138,810. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES C. COLLAMORE and GRANT W. KERST, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLaunch-Covers, of which'the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.-

Our invention relates to covers or awnings for launches or other smallboats and the like.

The object of our invention is to provide a cover or awning for a smallboat which is adjustable so as to be raised at one or both ends in orderto facilitate ingress and egress to the boat. The entirecover may befolded up and stowed away neatly. The operation of the awning may becontrolled from any suitable point.

The invention consists in the construction of framework with stays andcontrollingropes, which is more particularly shown in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the following specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a launch with a cover embodying theimprovements of our invention, the forward end of the cover beingraised. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a launch with a framework of ourconstruction shown in position, but with the canvas or awning removed.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation and cross-section of parts of thestructure with modification. Fig. 4. is a cross-sectional view of amodified detail.

1 is a launch which has a cockpit with a rail 11.

2 and 3 are posts which are pivoted to the launch by means of plates 4:.

5 is an inverted-U-shaped frame having two ends which slide relativelyto the posts 2 and 3 for the purpose of permitting the center frame tobe extended to a length approximately equal to the frames 6 and 7.

6 and 7 are frames, fore and aft, respectively, of the center posts 2and 3, which are pivoted relatively to the deck of the launch. We haveshown them pivoted to the bottom of the post 2. They are longer than thecenter frame, but of similar curvature.

8 and 9 are fore and aft stay-chains attached to the posts for thepurpose of securing the same in an upright position. Either one or bothof these stay-chains 8 and 9 may be'attached to the deck by means of acatch 10.' Obviously when the chain 9 is released from the catch 10' thepost and attached catches, so that the frames may be swung forward andlie down about the rail 11 to whose curvature they approximate wherethey will be snug and out of the way. Obviously the forward stay 8 mightbe secured by a catch similar to the catch 10; but this is notessential, and we have shown herein a stationary plate 12 for securingthe forward stays to the deck.

13 is the canvas or awning proper which may be secured to the tops ofthe frames 5, 6, and 7 by any suitable means. 14 and 15 are fore and aftropes or lanyards secured to the frames 6 and 7 on either side of thelaunch In the frame herein shown the for more securely holding the coverin place.

These lanyards can be secured by a permanent fastening-plate 16; but weprefer to use removable catches, which may be controlled from a suitablepoint in the boat.

17 is a plug adapted to fit into a bushing 18 in the deck.

19 is a bolt controlled by a spring 20, which is adapted to coactwiththe plug 17 and lock it when the same is in the position shown inFig. 3.

21 is a rope attached to the bolt 19 for withdrawing it from the plug17, so that the lanyards and attached frame may be released.

The tension of the cover and other parts of the structure is such thatwhen the bolt 19 is withdrawn from the plug the cover will immediatelyspring up sufliciently for the plug to be released. Obviously similarcatches could be used on the forward lanyards 14..

When the lanyards holding one of the fore or aft frames, either 6 or 7,have been released from the deck, the frame corresponding may side ofthe boat, so as to be reached at the stern.

23 is the end of such a rope. 25 is a pulley'or shive attached to thedeck near the foot of the center post 2. The rope 22 passes around thepulley 25 and then up and through a pulley carried by the top of thecenter frame 5 and back and forth through a series of pulleys carried bythe center frame 5 and the forward frame 6 alternately around their topedges. The upper end of the rope 22 should be fixed relatively to theframe 5 or 6. We have secured it herein to the frame 5. W? hen theforward lanyards 14 have been released and the rope 22 is pulled tight,the forward frame 6 will be rocked on its pivots and tilted toward thecenter frame 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

The aft frame 7 may be operated similarly by a rope 26, which passes upand then back and forth through a series of pulleys on the center frame5 and the aft frame 7 and has its upper end secured to the frame 5. Thisrope likewise extends from the stern at 27 forward and up through apulley similar to 25, so as to enable one to lift the aft end of theawning 13 in a manner similar to the forward end when the lanyards 15are released. W'ith the aft frame 7 raised passengers may land aft thecenter posts.

When both ends of the awning have been lifted to a position similar tothat of the forward frame 6 in Fig. 1, the center frame will cease to bethe fulcrum for raising the outer ends of the fore and aft frames, andthese latter frames will become the fulcru ms. Continued pulling on theropes or halyards 22 and 26 will pull the center frame outward, and allthree frames will approach each other in the upright position. If therear stays 9 of the posts 2 and 3 are released, allthree frames can betilted forward and stowed about the outer edgeof the rail 11, to whoseshape they conform. For this purpose it will be seen that the length ofthe center frame plus the posts must be approximately equal to thelength of the fore and aft frames.

In Fig. 3 we have shown the center post 2 provided with a hinge 28, sothat the post may have a movement athwart the heat. This structure isnot essential to many of the chief advantages of our invention, butperfects the operation of the structure. Preferably the top of the coveris somewhat narrower than the distance between the supporting-pivots4 onthe deck. This will be noted in the plan view in Fig. 2. When,therefore, the center frame 5 is extended relatively to the posts 2 and8, the hinge in the post will enable it to adjust itself more easily tothe changing angular position demanded upon one or the other of theparts. Otherwise there must be a bending of the center frame 5 or agiving of the posts 2 and 3.

When the cover has been stowed away and is to be extended for use, thethree frames are tilted to an upright position. Then the center frame isstayed and then the fore and aft portions are drawn down, whicheffectually telescopes the center frame. The fastening of the fore andaft frame lanyards holds the entire cover securely. The awning 28 may besecured to the aft end of the cover, but is not concerned or involved inthis invention.

The construction is simple and may be easily operated, affording anefficient cover- 111g.

Obviously either the fore frame 6 or the aft frame 7 might be omittedand the remaining portion of the framework and awning used alone. Theparts would then operate in exactly the same manner as set forth for theentire structure, the operation of raising the second inclined frame ofcourse being eliminated.

Fig. 4: shows a modification of the connection between the post 2 andone end of the center frame 5. 29 is an intermediate member in which theframe 5 telescopes and which itself telescopes in the post 2. The top ofthe post 2 and the top of the member29 should each be provided withstops, which in conjunction with lugs carried by the lower ends of themember 29 and frame 5 will prevent the parts from being entirelywithdrawn from one another; but the form of stops and lugs isimmaterial. By this construction a much longer cover or awning may beused. Then the center frame 5 is extended to correspond with the lengthof the forward frame 6, the advantage of this construction will beobvious.

.Vhat we claim isl. A launclrcover including deck-plates, in verted- Ushaped fore and aft frames pivotally mounted thereon, a shorterextensible center frame pivoted to said plates and means for stayingsaid frames.

2. In a launch cover the combination of the stationary deck-plates, twoframes pivotally carried thereby, one of said frames being upright andextensible, and the other being mounted at an angle thereto, stays forsaid extensible frame, removable catches for one set of stays, and astay for holding the other frame down.

3. In a launch-cover the combination of the stationary deck-plates, twoframes pivotally carried thereby, one of said frames being upright andextensible, and the other being mounted at an angle thereto, stays forsaid extensible frame, removable catches for one set of stays, and astay for holding the other frame down, and a snap-bolt and plug adaptedto coaet therewith for securing said stay to the deck.

4. A launch-cover including a plurality of inverted- U shaped framespivotally mounted at the same point, stays for holding said frames intheir operative positions, removable catches for securing two sets ofsaid stays to the deck of a launch and controlling-ropes extending fromthe catches of one of said sets of stays.

5. A launch-cover including an extensible center frame, pivoted fore andaft frames, pivotal mountings for said center frame, stays for securingsaid frames in position, some of said stays being adapted to beremovably secured to a launch, means for removably securing said stays,and means for operating same.

6. A launch-cover including a pivotallymounted and extensible centerframe, two fore and aft frames longer than the center frame and pivotedat the base thereof and inclined at an angle thereto, a rope passingfrom the fore and aft frames to the center frame for drawing the foreand aft frames toward the center frame and then extending the latter.

7. A launch-cover including a pivotallymounted and extensible frame, asecond frame longer than the extensible frame and pivoted at the basethereof and inclined at an angle thereto, a rope passing from one frameto the other for drawing the inclined frame toward the extensible frameand then extending the latter, and means for removably securing saidframes in their opened-out position.

8. A launch-cover, including three pivotally-monnted frames, two sets ofstays for one of said frames, one of said stays being adapted to beremovably secured to the deck of a launch, means for thus securing it, astay for each of the other frames, a plug carried by one of said staysand a snap-bolt adapted to coact therewith. 9. A launch-cover andmechanism for operating same including a plurality of frames pivotallymounted about the same point, one of said frames being extensible and arope passing back and forth between said frames for drawing themtogether.

10. Alaunch-cover including a pair of pivotally-mounted posts, staystherefor, a frame telescoped in said posts, a pair 'of frames pivoted atthe base of said posts, and means for operating the same.

11. A launch-cover construction comprising a pair of pivoted posts, anextensible frame operating in conjunction with said posts, a framepivoted at-the base of said posts, a hinge in each of said posts,intermediate extensible members cooperating with the said posts andtheir frame and stays for said frames.

12. A launch-cover construction comprising a pair of pivoted posts,"an-extensible frame operating in conjunction with said posts, a framepivoted at the base of said ble frame operating in conjunction with saidposts and intermediate extensible members cooperating with said postsand their frame. 15. A launch-cover construction including a pair ofdeck-plates, fore and aft frames piv-- oted thereto, center postspivoted to said deck-plates, an extensible frame operating inconjunction with said posts and intermediate extensible memberscooperating with said posts and their frame, and stays for said frames.

JAMES o. COLLAMORE. GRANT w. KERST.

. Witnesses:

RoBT. S. ALLYN, L. VREELAND.

